Less than two weeks after Sikorsky's X2 dual-rotor helicopter smashed the rotorcraft speed record, going 250 knots, European group Eurocopter announced a revolutionary high-speed winged helicopter.
The X3 hybrid helicraft pairs traditional overhead rotor blades with forward-facing propellers mounted on two short-span fixed aircraft wings, making a craft that’s half-plane and half-helicopter. It is the flagship of Eurocopter’s High-speed, long-range Hybrid Helicopter (H3) concept, which aims to combine vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with cruise speeds of more than 220 knots.
The faceoff between the two helicopter companies stems from competition to deliver more speed without losing efficiency, overcoming the usual trade-off between speed and hovering efficiency. When rotorcraft are pushed to high speeds, the rotor tips approach supersonic speeds, which threatens the stability of the base of the rotor.
The helicopter/airplane hybrid design is intended to address this problem, while Sikorsky's approach relies on two main rotors atop the cabin that spin in opposite directions, neutralizing the spinning force and providing a speed boost.
Since the X3’s first flight was only 3 weeks ago, on September 6, while the Sikorsky X2 has two years of test flights under their belt, it’s too soon to say who could come out on top. But since they both already boast sustainable speeds some 100 knots higher than typical helicopters, it's sure to be an exciting race.
[X3 via Reuters]